Safaricom Launches ‘Shangwe @25’ Celebrations in Eldoret

 

By Kemuma Achieng 

 Safaricom PLC has officially kicked off its 25th anniversary celebrations in Eldoret under the theme “Shangwe @25”, marking a quarter-century of connecting Kenyans and transforming lives through technology and innovation.

The event, held in Uasin Gishu County, celebrated Safaricom’s journey from a small mobile operator to a digital powerhouse serving over 50 million customers, including 35 million active M-PESA users.

Originally scheduled for October, the celebrations were postponed in honor of the national mourning period following the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Safaricom emphasized that the milestone is not just about corporate success but a tribute to the trust and loyalty of its customers over the past 25 years.

The nationwide campaign will tour key towns and markets across the Rift Valley and beyond, rewarding customers for using Safaricom’s products and services. Daily prizes include KSh 10 in airtime or 250MB of data for bundle purchases or M-PESA transactions. Customers will also stand a chance to win cash prizes of up to KSh 1 million, while grand-prize winners can direct KSh 250,000 toward community projects of their choice.

M-PESA agents and small business owners are also set to benefit from the campaign through incentives such as stock worth KSh 100,000–250,000 or Bajaj three-wheelers, aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and local commerce.

Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member Martha Cheruto lauded Safaricom’s role in driving financial inclusion, digitizing cooperative societies, and promoting cashless agricultural transactions. She noted that the county is expanding internet hotspots to enable youth to participate in the digital economy.

“Safaricom is still young at 25,” Cheruto said. “Its innovation and resilience should inspire young people to embrace technology as a tool for creating wealth and driving change.”

She further praised Safaricom’s initiatives in digital savings, disaster response, and community development, noting the company’s continued partnership with Uasin Gishu County in fostering digital transformation and economic empowerment.